DEFORMATION ANALYSIS IN THE MORóN DE LA FRONTERA - PUEBLA DE CAZALLA SECTOR OF THE BETIC CORDILLERA (S SPAIN) USING PSI

摘要

The Betic Cordillera is a region of great interest forrecent tectonic studies due to its location in the GibraltarArc, a key area for understanding the evolution of thewesternmost Mediterranean in the framework of Eurasian-African plate interaction. Geological and geophysicalresearch efforts have been previously combined todetermine the geometry of the recent tectonic structuresthat deform the Betic Cordillera NW mountain front, inthe Morón de la Frontera-Puebla de Cazalla sector.Analysis of the earthquake focal mechanisms providesinformation about the present day stress in the area andits relation to the surface deformations related to themain tectonic structures. There is a regional NW-SEmaximum compressional stress field nearby the mountainfront related to earthquake thrust fault focal mechanismsthat evidence the activity of the northwesternmostmountain front, owing to its favourable orientation withrespect to the present-day convergence of the Eurasian-African plates. Although the area constitutes the bestsuitable zone to determine the interaction of seismicityand relief development associated to the front of theBetics, the present-day surface deformation has not beenestablished up to now. This paper investigates the applicabilityof satellite radar interferometry using ERSSAR and Envisat ASAR datasets to help to constraintthe geological hazard of the region. Areas with very lowrates of elevation and subsidence have been establishedin a complex pattern. In general the highest areas closeto Torcal and Burgo seems to be subsident like otherprominent elevations. Further field studies are needed torelate vertical deformation and local tectonic structures.